Subramaniam: RM150mil allocation approved

ALOR GAJAH: The Federal Government has approved an allocation of RM150mil for 2013/2014 to upgrade the level of education in more than 300 National-Type Tamil Schools (SJKTs) nationwide.

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the RM100mil for 2013 and RM50mil this year will be used to relocate existing schools to a new area or improve their facilities, including adding classrooms.

Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, said schools in areas such as estates, which had few students, will also be moved to housing areas or the cities.

Currently, he said, there were 60 schools which have less than 25 students while 15 schools had less than 10 students.

“We are updating our list of schools and will give priority (for moving) to schools which have already obtained land,” he told reporters after a foundation stone laying ceremony for SJKT Rumbia, here today.

He added that the process of upgrading education at SJKTs had paid off with 1,298 students obtaining 7As for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year. – Bernama